It’s important that we all get to know who our leaders are at Ballad Health. To help out, we’ll do an ongoing series that introduces our senior leaders and tells you a little about them as people.
1. What’s your name?
Lisa Carter
2. What’s your role within Ballad Health?
CEO of Niswonger Children’s Hospital/pediatric service line leader
3. Where are you from?
Originally from Elizabethton, Tennessee
4. Education and professional background:
BSN from Tennessee Tech, MSN at East Tennessee State University
5. Tell us about your family:
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Husband, Tucker, who was my college sweetheart
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Jesse, our oldest non-biological son (22), who is serving in the U.S. Army
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Zach (20)
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Bryce (17)
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Tim (20) and Gentry (20) – We gave them a home and help for the future
6. Tell us about your pets:
Missy (Prissy Pants), a Maltese who rules the house because she’s a diva
Winston, a bearded collie who is afraid of Missy
Lucy, a golden retriever who is the laziest dog ever
7. What’s your favorite food?
Kettle Corn—it’s the perfect sweet salty combination, and I may have a slight problem with putting the bag away…until it’s empty that is.
8. What’s your favorite movie or TV show?
We only watch sports at my house. It needs to involve keeping score and have a winner. “Tombstone” is the best movie ever! Or Hoosiers. I like it when the good guys win.
9. What’s your favorite book?
That’s hard because I read all the time and have many many favorites. The most recent read would be “Unbroken”
10. What do you usually do on the weekend?
Run, read, relax. It’s my family time.
11. What’s one thing most people at work might not know about you?
Most people know I play golf. I played in college and was both Ohio Valley Conference champion and Academic All-American.
12. What inspires you to work in healthcare?
My last child was a NICU baby (neonatal intensive care unit) and I know first-hand the struggles of having a sick child. Helping children and their families motivates me. I want to positively impact their lives and make their experiences positive. I’m in my role to create positive change.
13. What’s the most moving moment you’ve ever witnessed while working in healthcare?
As a nurse, I’ve had many experiences that shaped me as a person. One of the most significant came when I was managing the PICU (pediatric intensive care unit). The son of a dear friend of mine was brought to the hospital unresponsive. By the next day he was pronounced brain dead from bacterial meningitis. I was able to be with the family when they turned off his ventilator. I delivered the news to their family and friends at the parents’ request. It’s an honor to serve people during their most vulnerable time. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to go through those times with people and to be positively changed by those moments of great sorrow.